"We have a moral obligation to the mentally ill, and if we are unable or unwilling to meet our moral obligation, then we have a responsibility, from a public safety point of view, to at the very least protect the lives of those individuals who come into contact with people in these situations, including our police officers," Flynn said.

THE MAN SHOT TO DEATH BY MILWAUKEE POLICE WEDNESDAY HAD A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS. POLICE IDENTIFIED THE MAN THIS AFTERNOON AS 31- YEAR-OLD DONTRE HAMILTON OF MILWAUKEE. THIS STORY IS DEVELOPING. 12 NEWS REPORTER NICK BOHR IS LIVE AT RED ARROW PARK...THE SCENE OF YESTERDAY'S VIOLENCE. AND THINGS APPEAR BACK TO NORMAL HERE, A DAY AFTER THE SOUND OF GUNFIRE ECHOED OFF THE BUILDINGS... INCLUDING CITY HALL RIGHT NEXT DOOR. AND THOUGH THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGING... POLICE REVEALED THEY'VE ENCOUNTERED THE SUSPECT BEFORE... WHEN HE TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF LAST YEAR. 1:16 :23-:27 POLICE RUSHED TO RED ARROW PARK FOR BACKUP AFTER A 38-YEAR-OLD OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED 31-YEAR-OLD DONTRE HAMILTON. OUR PURPOSE IS NOT TO DEMONIZE OUR SUSPECT. WHILE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS LEADING THE INVESTIGATION MILWAUKEE POLICE CHIEF ED FLYNN CAN REVEAL HAMILTON HAD PRIOR ARRESTS FOR ARMED ROBBERY AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT... AND A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS.... EXHIBITED DURING A POLICE CALL LAST YEAR. POLICE WERE SUMMONED TO THE SCENE WHERE HE ATTEMPTED TO KILL HIMSELF LAST YEAR BY STABBING HIMSELF IN THE NECK... SAYING VOICES TOLD ME TO KILL MYSELF AND YOU PEOPLE TOO. STARBUCKS EMPLOYEES CALLED POLICE AFTER WATCHING HAMILTON, LAID OUT FLAT AS A BOARD IN RED ARROW PARK FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. WHEN THE 38-YEAR-OLD OFFICER HELPED HIM UP, FLYNN SAYS THE OFFICER WAS ATTACKED IN THE HEAD WITH HIS OWN NIGHTSTICK... AND FIRED TO PROTECT HIMSELF. FLYNN SAYS THE INCIDENT IS JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE CHALLENGES POLICE FACE BECAUSE OF FUNDING CUTS TO TREAT THE MENTALLY ILL. WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO THE MENTALLY ILL AND IF WE ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO MEET OUR MORAL OBLIGATION THEN WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY POINT OF VIEW TO AT THE VERY LEAST PROTECT THE LIVES OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH PEOPLE IN THESE SITUATIONS, INCLUDING OUR POLICE OFFICERS. THE OFFICER WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL LAST NIGHT... AND WAS PERSONALLY INTERVIEWED BY D-A JOHN CHISHOLM. THE OFFICER REMAINS ON ADMINISTRATIVE DUTY AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES. AN AUTOPSY WAS CONDUCTED THIS MORNING ... BUT INVESTIGATORS AREN'T RELEASING HOW MANY SHOTS WERE FIRED ...